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Taken from the Legacy liner notes:
I FIRST MET DOC WATSON in 1972. He was sitting
alone in a little outdoor backstage area at a
bluegrass festival in Lavonia, Georgia. After
some discussion about the soulful way he played
“Deep River Blues,” I asked him how a blind person
dreams. I'll never forget what he said: “I dream
in feelings, pure feelings.”
The soulfulness I found in Doc and other traditional
musicians inspired me to get closer to the source.
The next year I moved to Asheville, NC, immersed
myself in playing old-time banjo and spent the
rest of my time visiting, collecting and learning
from the old-timers in the mountains. I ran into
Doc from time to time, but it wasn't until 1984
that we actually had a chance to work together.
I was hosting a traditional music show on The
Nashville Network called "Fire On The Mountain"
and Doc and his son, Merle, appeared as guests.
What a pleasure it was to play with them. Tone,
musicianship -- it was all there, but what really
floored me was how quickly we locked into a rhythm
that just seemed to carry the music along effortlessly.
Since then, we've worked together on a number
of musical projects, including “Reel & Rock,”
and “Grandfather's Greatest Hits.” “Reel & Rock,”
recorded in 1985, was one of the last recordings
Merle worked on before his death.
In 1989, my daughter Sara Jane died in an automobile
accident at the age of ten. Doc came down as soon
as he heard. He talked with my wife, Ginny, and
me and comforted us with music. Ever since then,
we've had an unspoken bond-a bond that only parents
who have lost a child can fully understand.
In the fall of 1998, Doc and I were asked to present
a concert for North Carolina Public Television.
The show was so popular with viewers that organizations
started asking about booking this group for performances.
“The Hills of Home Tour,” which also includes
Richard Watson, Doc’s grandson, has performed
every year since then. During each concert, I
talk with Doc about his past. The audiences are
so intrigued by these glimpses into Doc's life
that we decided to make a separate recording of
these interviews and include it with the CD of
the live concert we performed in Asheville, NC.
To elaborate on some of the events that were only
touched on in the spoken interview, I talked to
a number of people who have known and worked with
Doc: friends, family and fellow musicians. Their
comments make up the liner notes. Rather than
just facts, I have included stories that contribute
unique insights into Doc’s life and character
and add dimension to his spoken history. I’ve
arranged these quotes so they relate to the topics
Doc is discussing in each of the interview segments.
One last note: When talking with Doc, you have
to listen closely. Sometimes a harsh truth is
gently folded into the words he speaks. Honest
talk is important to him. His language, just like
his music, is thoughtful, engaging, and filled
with deeper meaning. This honesty, combined with
his inspiring musicianship, is Doc's legacy to
us all.
-- David Holt |
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